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]]>What was the longest weather delay in Daytona 500 history turned out to bring NASCAR lower ratings and TV viewership Sunday night than expected. According to a report Monday from FOX Sports, the 56th running of the Daytona 500 airing at 8 PM (ET) posted a 5.6/10 national household rating/share which averaged 9.3 million viewers. That’s down 44 percent from last year’s 9.9, easily making it the least-watched Daytona 500 of all-time.

Due to the six-hour, twenty-two minute rain delay in Daytona, the race was up against the primetime coverage of the Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony from Sochi, Russia on NBC (15.25 million viewers). FOX also reported that 69% of the pre-rain delay viewers of the race, which began at 1 PM (ET) kept tuning in.

In comparison, the 2013 Daytona 500 on FOX was the most-watched race in five years, posting a 9.9/22 rating/share, commanding 16.7 million viewers. The Daytona 500 in 2012, the first to ever be run on a Monday and in the primetime slot did a 7.7/13 overnight rating/share which resulted in 13.67 million households viewing the race according to Nielsen TV ratings data.

]]>Earnhardt, Jr. Claims Second Daytona 500 Victoryhttps://frontstretch.com/2014/02/26/earnhardt-jr-claims-second-daytona-500-victory/
Wed, 26 Feb 2014 06:01:55 +0000https://frontstretch.com/site/?p=69415Ten years is a long time. For Dale Earnhardt, Jr., it felt like an eternity. NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver endured many near misses and close calls at the Daytona 500 since his only win in the Great American Race in 2004. Earnhardt had finished second in two of his last three Daytona 500s coming into …

]]>Ten years is a long time. For Dale Earnhardt, Jr., it felt like an eternity. NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver endured many near misses and close calls at the Daytona 500 since his only win in the Great American Race in 2004. Earnhardt had finished second in two of his last three Daytona 500s coming into Sunday’s race. He was also riding the tail of a 55-race winless streak, dating back to Michigan in 2012.

However nothing would stop Dale Jr. on Sunday, not even a 6 hour and 22 minute rain delay from capturing his second Daytona 500 win. Earnhardt Jr. led a race-high 54 laps on the evening and used some timely drafting help from teammates Jimmie Johnson and, on the final restart, Jeff Gordon to separate from the pack and secure the victory.

“Winning this race is the greatest feeling that you could feel in this sport besides accepting the trophy for the championship,” said a jubilant Earnhardt after pulling into Victory Lane. “We could fight off battle after battle. We got a little help at the end there from Jeff to get away on the restart. This is amazing. I can’t believe this is happening. I never take this for granted, man because it doesn’t happen twice, let alone once.”

Aside from the race itself the big story of the race was the 6 hour and 22 minute red flag, which threatened to move the race to Monday evening (had the race been postponed, FOX Sports’ Chris Myers had tweeted that the race would resume at 5:00pm EST). However, Mother Nature would cooperate and would allow the race to be run under different conditions from which they practiced this week. Once the race resumed, the intensity picked up from the changing track conditions. This allowed the pack to race side-by-side and at times 3-wide up to seven rows deep.

Joining Earnhardt Jr. in the top 5 for the 2014 Daytona 500 were: Denny Hamlin who closed out a spectacular Speedweeks in second, Brad Keselowski in third, Jeff Gordon in fourth, and Jimmie Johnson who overcome two wrecks leading up to the 500 in fifth.

Rounding out the top 10 in the Daytona 500 were Matt Kenseth in sixth, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. in seventh and Greg Biffle would bring his No. 16 Ford home in eighth. Austin Dillon would come home ninth in his first Cup Series race in the iconic No. 3 for Richard Childress Racing, while Casey Mears would round out the top 10.

A couple of major contenders for the Daytona 500 win would see their hopes dashed early on as Martin Truex, Jr. would blow up just 30 laps into the race, relegating him to a 43rd-place finish in his debut for Furniture Row Racing. Crew chief Todd Berrier was already in Nashville for a test session before the race was even over. Kyle Busch, meanwhile would have a pit road violation just before halfway and would spend much of the race battling back from that mistake. Busch would eventually finish 19th after leading 19 laps.

Danica Patrick would also be bit by bad luck as she was caught up in a multi-car wreck on lap 145. Patrick would lead her second consecutive Daytona 500, but wouldn’t have the finish to show for it finishing 40th. Tony Stewart would encounter a frustrating evening as well, with a fuel pickup problem derailing his quest for his first Daytona 500 win. Stewart would finish 35th.

A look at the Daytona 500 by the numbers. There were 42 lead changes among 18 drivers, while seven cautions for 39 laps would slow the race pace to 145.290 MPH.

Next week, the Sprint Cup Series heads to the “diamond in the desert,” Phoenix International Raceway for The Profit on CNBC 500K. The Green flag is scheduled for 3:15pm EST.

]]>Pace Laps: Daytona Storylines That Won’t Go Awayhttps://frontstretch.com/2014/02/24/pace-laps-daytona-storylines-that-wont-go-away/
Mon, 24 Feb 2014 05:28:32 +0000https://frontstretch.com/site/?p=69370Did you miss an event during this busy week in racing? How about a late-night press release, an important sponsorship rumor, or a juicy piece of news? If you did, you’ve come to the right place! Each Monday, The Frontstretch will break down the racing, series by series, to bring you the biggest stories that …

]]>Did you miss an event during this busy week in racing? How about a late-night press release, an important sponsorship rumor, or a juicy piece of news? If you did, you’ve come to the right place! Each Monday, The Frontstretch will break down the racing, series by series, to bring you the biggest stories that you need to watch going forward for the week ahead. Let our experts help you get up to speed, no matter what series you might have missed, all in this edition of Pace Laps!

Sprint Cup: Earnhardt, Schmearnhardt… Don’t Sleep On The Blue Oval Bunch Looking for Earnhardt coverage? See below; we have plenty of it. But don’t forget others competed at Daytona too and Ford, of all manufacturers has to be feeling pretty good about themselves with the start of the Cup season. Sure, the Toyotas of Joe Gibbs Racing seemed to dominate Speedweeks, and the Hendrick Chevrolets took top positions in the Daytona 500, but there’s reason for optimism. With (and should be noted all results are unofficial at press time) Brad Keselowski taking third, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr, seventh, Greg Biffle eighth, and Joey Logano eleventh, the Blue Oval looks like they might emerge from Daytona with some excellent pace under the hood.

Now, frequently teams have excelled at the restrictor-plate nuttiness that is Daytona, only to fall by the wayside, but fans have to imagine that Ford has put some effort into making a statement this year. P. Huston Ladner

Nationwide: What a Difference a Year Makes — Last year, Regan Smith entered the final lap in position to win at Daytona in the Nationwide Series. He ended it 14th, his car in a pile of pieces and his heart broken in several more. It didn’t help that climbing out, his first view was of debris cluttering the grandstands, fans yelling for help and stretchers summoned to take out more than a dozen innocent victims.

“I think that he personally and privately beared some responsibility for his involvement in the crash,” said team owner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. “To have someone in the grandstands get hurt… that was one of the toughest things he went through as a driver.”

One year later, Smith came back with a clear goal in mind: put those demons behind them and start the year holding a trophy. Well, mission accomplished. NASCAR’s new drafting rules meant there were periods of single-file racing, but Smith had the horsepower and handling to push through. This time, he was the challenger, knowing when to make the move on Brad Keselowski off Turn 4 — and this time he ensured there would be no mistakes.

“Nobody felt worse than me Sunday morning [last year,]” Smith said. “I think we learned some stuff from that. In the right place in the right time.”

Now, Smith is in position to celebrate. In the midst of controversy over NASCAR rules, the driver has inched ahead early for a title race he led comfortably for much of last year before faltering down the stretch. Part of overcoming those issues is turning failures into success stories; if Smith can harness this momentum, that’s one big turnaround to knock off the checklist. Tom Bowles

Camping World Truck Series: Kyle’s Win Raises New Criticism Over Double/Triple Duty — For Kyle Busch, Friday night at Daytona was the pinnacle. Busch now holds trophies from ARCA, Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck races at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. The Truck race had long been a near-miss; in five previous starts, Busch had run second three times. To get over the hump this time, a perfect last-lap pass on Timothy Peters that gave us the eighth-closest margin of victory in series history was nothing less than thrilling for the Cup Series veteran.

It also angered many fans that Busch denied a full-timer (Timothy Peters) a hard-fought win. Once again, Busch, in their minds, had “stolen” the race from full-time competitors in the series, his 99th combined victory in Nationwide/Trucks even though he’s been running the big leagues (Cup) full-time since 2005. When pressed on the issue, Busch was quick to mix sarcasm, defensiveness and seriousness all in one comment to try and explain why he keeps dipping down into the sport’s lower divisions.

“People don’t like it,” he said. “I’m stealing candy from a baby. [But] ‘til the rules are changed or everybody else grows up and can beat me, then we’re racing, so… I have a Truck team for a reason. If I didn’t drive it in some races, it wouldn’t be in existence. Eric Phillips [crew chief] wouldn’t be employed at KBM. I’m going to enjoy watching [up-and-comer] Erik Jones race the truck when I’m not in it.”

Busch has made the same type of argument for years — up-and-comers can share a ride that, in essence, helps support the series — but NASCAR may be transitioning to the other side. Saturday, reports came in and were confirmed by Kelley Earnhardt Miller the sport is mulling options to limit the number of starts from Cup stars in lower series next season, or even to simply ban them altogether. So Busch’s dominance, set to resume this season in Trucks, may actually hurt him and some other Cup moonlighters over the long-term, finishing off an argument that’s been flaring up for well over a decade.

Good thing, then, that Busch took that Daytona trophy while he still could. The clock on his Truck career, in the midst of record-setting success, may have started ticking. Tom Bowles

Short Tracks: Suarez Starts Strong The K&N East series opened its season at New Smyrna Speedway for the first time in its history last Sunday night. Daniel Suarez held off a furious charge from Cameron Hayley over the last five laps of the race to score his second career K&N East series win. He followed that up by winning the K&N East portion of the Battle at the Beach held on the back straight at Daytona International Speedway. The back-to-back wins were the first to open a season for the K&N East series since Sean Caisse in 2006. Suarez is on a roll, having won the season finale of the NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series in 2013. Looking back a little further, Suarez has scored top-5 finishes in five of his last six regional touring series events.

The Battle at the Beach was another rousing success in 2014. The temporary track on the Superstretch at Daytona International Speedway saw incredibly competitive racing for 300 laps in both Whelen Modified action and K&N East Series competition. Unfortunately, this February will be the last occurrence of the Battle contested at Daytona International Speedway. The Superstretch grandstand is going to be dismantled starting in July of this season. There may very well be a Battle at the Beach in 2015; it just won’t take place at DIS. Mike Neff

Sports Cars: Sebring Success Just because there was an incredible amount of oval track racing at Daytona International Speedway, New Smyrna Speedway and Volusia Speedway Park doesn’t mean that nothing else of note was happening in Florida last weekend.

Approximately three hours away from Daytona International Speedway is Sebring International Raceway, a 3.7-mile circuit built on a World War II-era airfield. In a shade over two weeks, teams pull into the paddock to prepare for the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring, round two of the Tudor United SportsCar Championship and the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup.

In preparation for the 12-hour endurance event, there was a two-day open test last week. Over 40 teams descended on the course, which contains some of the bumpiest sections of race track in the country, to test their cars and benchmark themselves against the competition. For how big the Rolex 24 at Daytona is, it’s more of an outlier. Daytona’s road course configuration requires the least downforce of any track on the calendar. As a result, the Daytona Prototypes dominated the proceedings.

That is not necessarily so in Sebring. While the No. 5 Action Express Racing Chevrolet Corvette DP Evo shared by Sebastien Bourdais, Christian Fittipaldi and Joao Barbosa that won at Daytona did turn in the fastest laps of the test (the only team to break into the 1:52’s), they were alone amongst DP cars at the top of the chart. The No. 42 Morgan-Nissan entered by OAK Racing and driven by Olivier Pla, Gustavo Yacaman and Ho-Pin Tung actually topped the charts in two of the four sessions.

Overall, Action Express’ No. 5 was fastest with an advantage of nearly three-quarters of a second over the No. 42. The Spirit of Daytona No. 90 shared by Richard Westbrook, Michael Valiante and Mike Rockenfeller was third-quickest, followed by the No. 01 Ford Riley for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and the No. 1 HPD ARX-03b for Extreme Speed Motorsports. In Prototype Challenge (PC), only four entries showed up to the test. The No. 25 entry from 8Star Motorsports shared by Tom Kimber-Smith, Robert LaRocca and Eric Lux was fastest with a lap of 1:55.940.

In GT Le Mans, Porsche North America (run by core Autosport) kept up the momentum from winning its class at the Rolex 24, turning in the fastest time in all four sessions. The No. 911 driven by Richard Lietz, Patrick Pilet and Nick Tandy was fastest with a 1:59.395, followed by the No. 912. Behind the factory Porsches was the No. 93 SRT Viper of Marc Goossens and Jonathan Bomarito, a full second off the pace.

GT Daytona saw a number of Balance of Performance changes after Daytona. These changes have definitely benefited the teams racing the new Porsche 911 GT America. In Daytona, the 911s were fairly quick in a straight line, but just couldn’t keep up in the infield. At Sebring, Porsches turned in the two fastest times, led by the No. 73 from Park Place Motorsports shared by Kevin Estre, Connor de Filippi and Patrick Lindsey with a lap of 2:04.289. The No. 22 Alex Job Racing entry of Cooper MacNeil, Leh Keen and Peter Frommenwiler was second, while a surprising third was the No. 94 Turner Motorsport BMW Z4 driven by Dane Cameron, Paul Dalla Lana and Markus Palttala.

IMSA released the entry list for the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring on Tuesday. It has 68 entries, the maximum allowed under IMSA rules. Entries break down to 18 Prototypes (10 DP’s, 7 P2’s, and the DeltaWing), 11 Prototype Challenge cars, 12 GT Le Mans entries and 27 GT Daytona cars. A notable omission is the No. 99 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing Chevrolet Corvette DP Evo, which was completely destroyed in the huge crash with the No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F458 Italia during the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The Risi Ferrari is entered in the race, and Matteo Malucelli, who was in the Ferrari when it was hit from behind by Memo Gidley, is listed on the roster. Phil Allaway

NHRA: A New Face In Victory Lane — Everyone loves a first-time winner. Alexis DeJoria scored her first final round Funny Car win at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals in Phoenix this weekend in only the second time she’d made it to the final round. DeJoria, fourth-fastest qualifier on the weekend, beat Jeff Arend, Del Worsham and John Force en route to the finals where she faced off against John Force Racing’s Robert Hight. Hight, who had lane choice, held the slight advantage off the starting line but DeJoria passed him and began pulling away before he spun his tires. She went on to score the win with an elapsed time of 4.043 seconds (309.63 mph), which was her best of the weekend.

“When we won, I couldn’t believe it. I know we can do it, but it’s such a shock at the same time. It’s surreal. It’s really amazing. I don’t think I’m going to be able to sleep,” said DeJoria. “What a great feeling.”

In other series, Antron Brown took Top Fuel honors over Brittany Force, making her first appearance in a final elimination round. Brown took home the Wally with an elapsed time of 3.755 seconds (324.20 mph) to Force’s 3.793 seconds (322.04 mph). Allen Johnson scored the Pro Stock victory over Vieri “V” Gaines.

Meanwhile, Brown and DeJoria also qualified for the Traxxas Nitro Shootout, the NHRA version of the All-Star Race. That’ll take place as part of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, held Labor Day Weekend in Indianapolis. Toni Montgomery

]]>2014 Sprint Cup Predictions: Our Staff Tells Allhttps://frontstretch.com/2014/02/22/2014-sprint-cup-predictions-our-staff-tells-all/
Sun, 23 Feb 2014 04:34:19 +0000https://frontstretch.com/site/?p=69343JOIN OUR FANTASY RACING LEAGUE!! The Frontstretch has a big league on Yahoo!, once again and we’d like you to be a part of it. Come compete with your favorite racing experts by clicking here and signing up. Our Group ID is 10532 and the password is stenica… so don’t miss out! Let’s not waste …

]]>JOIN OUR FANTASY RACING LEAGUE!!
The Frontstretch has a big league on Yahoo!, once again and we’d like you to be a part of it. Come compete with your favorite racing experts by clicking here and signing up. Our Group ID is 10532 and the password is stenica… so don’t miss out!

Let’s not waste any time. Here’s a look at some of our columnists’ predictions for 2014, along with a peek at where you’ll be able to find them all season long.

Jimmie Johnson heads into 2014 with the confidence he can secure Sprint Cup title number seven.

Champion: Jimmie Johnson. Lame pick? Yes. But like it or not, Johnson remains at the top of his game with crew chief Chad Knaus one of the sport’s best at managing big transitions. New qualifying system? New playoff format? Expect this team to be on top of it all with flying colors.The Final Four: Johnson, Carl Edwards, Brad Keselowski, Kasey KahneRookie of the Year:Austin Dillon should win this one going away; he’s got the best equipment, the best record on paper and the push from granddaddy Richard Childress to live up to high expectations. But expect Kyle Larson to make an impact, perhaps winning late in the season for Chip Ganassi Racing. Oh, and that Parker Kligerman guy? He’ll put Swan Racing on the map, to the point people will actually know they exist come 2015.First driver fired: Reed Sorenson. I have an odd feeling Tommy Baldwin’s going to regret making major changes, ditching Dave Blaney and J.J. Yeley when the team was making painstakingly slow but steady progress.Big Name to Miss Chase: Greg Biffle. His contract’s up, along with Carl Edwards at Roush Fenway Racing. That provides the opportunity for major distractions. A new deal is supposedly imminent yet, you wonder at age 44 whether Biffle truly is a part of Roush’s long-term plans for success.

Champion: Kevin Harvick. Harvick is as determined as ever and he’s now driving for a team that has a Cup title within the last 20 years. That tiny step up in equipment could be all it takes to make Happy happy indeed.The Final Four: Harvick, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Jeff GordonRookie of the Year: I really, really want to say Kyle Larson, because I believe he’s easily the best driver in the group. Unfortunately, it also takes equipment to win, and Austin Dillon has an advantage in that department and will likely come out on top because of that.First driver fired: Greg Biffle. It’s not so much that Biffle will be fired, as he’s in the last year of his contract. But don’t be surprised if he’s not in Roush Fenway Racing’s 2015 plansBig Name to Miss Chase: Tony Stewart. Stewart’s best time of year is Fall – after the Chase has begun. If he doesn’t grab a win somewhere this spring (and he wasn’t having a great 2013 before he got hurt), Smoke may find himself watching his teammates and employees duke it out.

2014 Champion: Matt Kenseth. He has the tendency to get “hot” at the right times and the new system could favor that.Final Four: Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Kevin HarvickRookie of the Year: Austin Dillon. RCR edges EGR to start with and grandpa will be giving him the best they’ve got.First Driver Fired: Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. unless he finds that magic switch like he did in Nationwide.Big Name To Miss Chase: Kurt Busch. Gene Haas wants him there. Tony Stewart doesn’t. Pretty tense environment in which to try and thrive.

Champion: Matt Kenseth. Considering what he did his first season with JGR, and with Jason Ratcliff in his first year as a crew chief at the Cup level, I’m pretty sure the No. 20 will pick up where they left off last year. While the common consensus is that winning is now more important than ever, it’s still consistency that is going to pave the way to his second Sprint Cup in the Chase — particularly in the final few races.Final Four: Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Brad KeselowskiRookie of the Year: Austin Dillon. He already has a pole in the Daytona 500, plus he’s in the 3 – which was the 29 that won four races last year and finished third in points. The grandson of team owner Richard Childress should have no worries as to which team will be commanding the most attention this season. Kyle Larson will run well, but Ganassi Racing, outside of plate tracks and road courses has been out to lunch the last couple of years.First Driver Fired: Travis Kvapil. Partly for performance. Mostly for beating up his wife. Sponsors tend to not like that sort of thing.Big Name To Miss Chase: Brian Vickers. Not due to talent… just have a feeling that the recurrent blood clot issue may return out of the blue, as it did last year. I sincerely hope I miss this one by a mile.

Happy Harvick will surely be smiling this November if he ends the season with a Sprint Cup title.

2014 Champion: Kevin Harvick. New team or not, Harvick is poised to win a Sprint Cup Series championshp. Harvick has finished in the top five in points four of the last six races and is one of the most consistent drivers on the circuit. Expect Harvick to give Jimmie Johnson a run for his money.Final Four: Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Denny HamlinRookie of the Year: Austin Dillon. He’s in great equipment with an experienced race team. Plus, he’s already experienced a ton of success in both the Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series.First Driver Fired: Greg Biffle. With Roush Fenway Racing struggling so much, the Biff might be in need of a ride at season’s end. His contract is up at the end of this season.Big Name Driver Missing Chase: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. With the new system emphasizing wins, Earnhardt will likely find himself on the outside looking in.

2014 Sprint Cup Champion: Jimmie Johnson. He’s driving for the best team in the sport and has showed no signs of slowing pace. There’s no reason to believe he couldn’t pull off a seventh championship and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t.Final Four: Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kevin HarvickRookie of the Year: Austin Dillon has the lion’s share when it comes to experience and sheer prestige of his respective organization. That’ll be the deciding factor over Kyle Larson in 2014.First Driver Fired: Swan Racing gave two rookies — Parker Kligerman and Cole Whitt — a full-season shot in the Cup Series, but all this comes as the team expands from one car to two. A team that lacks the funding of the big guns will have little patience for poor runs, and of the two, Whitt might struggle more, potentially sealing his fate.Big Name Driver Missing Chase: It’s tough to determine because Oprah France is going to be handing out Chase berths left and right this year. But if one has to pick someone at all, it’s a Roush Fenway driver — try Greg Biffle, for instance. He doesn’t exactly have a high frequency of victories, and that could be the nail in his coffin this season.

2014 Sprint Cup Champion: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. I think this year is the one he finally puts it all together. Junior finally seems to have shaken off the confidence issues that forever prevented him from reaching his full potential, as evidenced by a sterling performance in the 2013 Chase. Earnhardt’s hungry, he’s talented, and he has all the pieces in place to pull it off. Junior will be your 2014 champion.Final Four: Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Brad KeselowskiRookie of the Year: Austin Dillon. As much as I’m impressed by Kyle Larson, Dillon has more stock car experience and better resources to work off. Not only that, but he’s a damn-talented race car driver. Dillon could very easily get ROTY and make the Chase in his maiden Sprint Cup season.First Driver Fired: I’m going to go with Ryan Truex. I just feel like he’s going to be in over his head at the Sprint Cup level seeing as he still has yet to put a full season together in Nationwide. His more experienced teammate Alex Bowman will likely outrun him early in the going, and BK Racing’s financial issues will ultimately torpedo Truex’s rookie season before he really gets a chance to settle in.Big name driver who will miss the Chase: Greg Biffle. I think 2014 will be the beginning of the end for Biffle’s career. His age is doing him no favors, and I just can’t help but feel that he’s reached his ceiling in this sport in terms of achievement. Look for him to have a similar year to what Jeff Burton had in 2013.

2014 Sprint Cup Champion: My Mom. Seriously, she’s got a fast Ford and with the way that half of the drivers are practically invited to the Chase anyway, I think she’s got a good shot. Oh wait, she didn’t enter? Bummer. I guess Jimmie Johnson adds another big trophy to his case.Final Four: Johnson, Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Joey LoganoRookie of the Year: The money is behind Austin Dillon, but Kyle Larson is going to show that moving up to Cup was a good move.First Driver Fired: Hm. I think Carl Edwards might fire Roush Fenway Racing, but that doesn’t count. Um. Just don’t see anything surprising happening here.Big Name Driver Missing Chase: Carl Edwards. Contract year. Frustration with the organization. Seems like the right combination for a mess.

2014 Champion: Matt Kenseth. Since moving over to Joe Gibbs Racing from Roush Fenway Racing, Kenseth has been extremely strong on intermediate tracks. Even with all the offseason changes, the one Chase constant is that it is still intermediate heavy. That will benefit Kenseth and the No. 20 team.Final Four: Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Brad KeselowskiRookie of the Year: Austin Dillon. Honestly, Dillon has inherited one of the strongest teams in all of Sprint Cup for his rookie season. It might be one of the two or three best efforts of the Modern Era for a rook. Of course, winning the pole for the Daytona 500 is a good start. While Dillon’s Cup performances up to this point have been just OK (best finish – 11th, Michigan), all the signs point to a very competitive season and a chance to get into the Chase. I can’t see any of Dillon’s rookie competitors pulling anything like that off this year.First Driver Fired: Reed Sorenson. Driver firings and/or changes in the middle of the season are incredibly rare these days. Most everyone on the grid in Daytona is very secure in their rides, either because they have a good rapport with their team, or that they brought money to the table. Sorenson has neither of these things. He’s a new guy in a team that is only so-so. If Sorenson doesn’t do well, I wouldn’t be surprised if Tommy Baldwin dumped him in favor of another shoe at some point.Big Name That Fails To Make Chase: Kurt Busch. An easy choice for me to make, even though he made the Chase last season with Furniture Row. There’s just too many unknowns here. A brand-new team with a crew chief (Daniel Knost) who’s never crew chiefed before. Pressure to produce early. Busch will keep a good attitude during the season, but he might come up a little bit short in Richmond.

Carl Edwards has had a disappointing last few seasons at Roush Fenway Racing. Could this year be the last one with him driving the No. 99?

2014 Sprint Cup Champion: Jimmie Johnson. The 48 Express is back on track and full steam ahead. Look for a massive year from Six-Time.Final Four: Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Joey LoganoRookie of the Year: Kyle Larson. Off the wall talent with maturity beyond his years. Won’t be surprised to see him win multiple races in 2014.First Driver Fired: Surprised I would ever say this, but Carl Edwards, especially if Roush Fenway doesn’t return to being competitive on a week in and week out basis.Big Name Missing Chase: Carl Edwards. I just see a train wreck coming at RFR this year which will result in a massive overhaul of the team for 2015.

2014 Sprint Cup Champion: Jimmie Johnson. He’s won six of the last eight titles, under three different points scenarios. Need I say more?Final Four: Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Kyle BuschRookie of the Year: Kyle Larson. He’s the most versatile driver to enter the Sprint Cup level since Tony Stewart. Expect great things.First Driver Fired: Jamie McMurray. Has underperformed for so long, there’s nobody left on the team to actually fire.Big Name Driver Missing Chase: Kevin Harvick. SHR going to four teams is going to put too much strain on their resources. Kurt Busch can perform better in that environment; Harvick has never had to truly deal with it.

2014 Champion: Jimmie Johnson. Format changes aside, I think it’s business as usual as Johnson finds a way to get his record equaling seventh championship.Final Four: Johnson, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Joey LoganoRookie of the Year: Austin Dillon. This one should be fun to watch, unlike in the last couple seasons and I think Dillon edges this one from Kyle Larson.First Driver Fired: No one. 2014 will be exceptionally stable.Big Name Driver Missing Chase: Greg Biffle. Last year at Roush?

2014 Champion: Jimmie Johnson. He’s bound to be in contention at Homestead with the lineup of races in the round before it (Martinsville, Texas, Phoenix). And in a one-race playoff, he’s as good a bet as any to win the title.Final Four: Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne, Kevin HarvickRookie of the Year: Austin Dillon. Kyle Larson is really his only competition and Dillon is in a much more competitive ride. I’d be surprised if he won a race, but not at all if he wins Rookie of the Year.First Driver Fired: Ryan Truex. I’m not sure he is ready for Sprint Cup.Big Name Driver Missing Chase: Greg Biffle. Biffle didn’t contend for many wins last year, and won only once. Roush Fenway has become a second-tier team and Biffle may be searching for a way out by the end of the year.

Brad Morgan, Senior WriterTwitter: NoneHis Columns Run: Tuesdays

2014 Champion: Jimmie Johnson. The six-timer found championship form in 2013, and is the driver to beat this season.Final Four: Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Joey LoganoRookie of the Year: Austin Dillon. Dillon’s situation at RCR is the most stable of the 2014 rookie class. He has been paired with RCR equipment for much of his development – that chemistry will pay off.First Driver Fired: Cole Whitt. Swan Racing has split its resources in two between teams led by Whitt and fellow ROTY candidate Parker Kligerman. Whitt has failed to make a serious impact in prior NSCS experience, and will not last long with an organization that is looking for a quick rise to prominence.Big Name Driver Missing Chase: Kurt Busch. Wins are more important than ever, and Busch has not won in over two years. He has struggled to handle his emotions on the big stage before; it could happen again.

2014 Champion: Kyle Busch. I figure at some point he’s got to add a Cup to his trophy case. Why not 2014?Final Four: Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Carl EdwardsRookie of the Year: Austin Dillon. While Kyle Larson may actually be the more talented of the two top runners for the award, Dillon’s got the team that knows how to get things done. Ganassi is just too inconsistent for my money to go on the No. 42.First Driver Fired: Marcos Ambrose. It may not be so much “fired” as simply leaves. The No. 9 had a lukewarm 2013, finishing 22nd in the points – something that both RPM and Ambrose were not overly pleased with. In the offseason, there has been talk of Ambrose returning to his native country instead of pursuing contract extensions beyond 2014. While Petty Motorsports has said that they expect business to run as status quo, you simply can’t compete in NASCAR with that mantra. Something has got to give, and if your driver is already looking over the horizon, why not help him pack?Big Name Driver Missing Chase: Clint Bowyer. At some point, karma will rise up and kick his ass.

Mark Howell, Senior WriterHis Columns Run: Wednesdays (Newsletter)

2014 Champion: Jimmie Johnson. The runaway locomotive continues to cannonball down the tracks. This year will be more of last year.Final Four: Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick
Rookie of the Year: Kyle Larson.* He’s bringing serious driving talent to a team that’s starving for success. This combination will reap benefits during 2014…First Driver Fired: Kurt Busch. I hate to say it, but I can’t help but think that a poor run (or two) will bring Old Kurt out of the shadows. One messy media dust-up and Tony just may drop him. The first who likely should be fired is Danica Patrick; she achieves a lot of attention, but that’s not the same thing as achieving solid and consistent performances on race day….Big Name Missing Chase: A rough year for Penske Racing — neither Brad Keselowski nor Joey Logano will make the Chase in 2014.

Ryan Newman’s got high expectations heading into Richard Childress Racing this season. Will he wind up achieving them?

2014 Champion: Tony Stewart. Just when it seems Smoke’s got too many things to overcome, or too many people think he’s not capable of winning again, he does. Stewart could also be the only driver to win the title under four different scoring formulas. You know he wasn’t satisfied with the overall performance of Stewart-Haas Racing last year, as a whole, so expect Stewart to lead a team that will perform much better.Final Four: Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.Rookie of the Year: The two top contenders here are obvious in Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson. I’ll have to go with Dillon here as he’s been in the Richard Childress Racing organization for his entire career and has had success. That means Dillon believes he can win now and that’s as important of a step as any.First Driver Fired: Alex Bowman in the BK Racing No. 23. It’s not that he doesn’t have some talent, it’s just that at age 20, entering the season he’ll need a little more experience.Big Name Driver Missing Chase: Ryan Newman will get some first-hand experience on why Kevin Harvick left the team.

2014 Champion: Matt Kenseth. Despite the focus on winning in 2014, consistency cannot be completely ignored. Matt Kenseth has always mastered consistency. He seemed to figure out the winning part last year. That combination plus having lessons learned from last year’s runner-up finish will make the No. 20 team one to watch this season.Final Four: Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Carl EdwardsRookie of the Year: Austin Dillon. Kyle Larson will have some good moments in 2014 while Justin Allgaier and even Micheal Annett will make their presence known. However, nobody will have anything for Dillon, who should take home the award fairly easily.First Driver Fired: Alex Bowman. This sport needs new young talent; fans and participants alike will want to see the likes of Bowman do well. However, he has such limited experience and is stepping into a team that is still struggling to gain its footing in the sport. That’s a combination that usually doesn’t end well and it probably will not for Bowman and BK Racing.Big Name Driver Missing Chase: Paul Menard. Not a “big name”? That is probably a correct assumption. However, the new Chase format makes it nearly impossible for all of the top drivers in the sport not to make it. So Paul Menard was chosen here since he is in the category of drivers that is expected to take the next step and make the Chase. While the No. 27 team has had some very strong runs, they have not been in contention to win and probably will not be consistent enough to fill out a field of 16 should there be less than a full Chase field of winners after the regular season.

]]>Mirror Driving: Ch-ch-ch-changes, Daytona Expectations And Morehttps://frontstretch.com/2014/02/21/69331/
Sat, 22 Feb 2014 04:24:13 +0000https://frontstretch.com/site/?p=69331JOIN OUR FANTASY RACING LEAGUE!! The Frontstretch has a big league on Yahoo!, once again and we’d like you to be a part of it. Come compete with your favorite racing experts by clicking here and signing up. Our Group ID is 10532 and the password is stenica… so don’t miss out! Welcome to “Mirror …

]]>JOIN OUR FANTASY RACING LEAGUE!!
The Frontstretch has a big league on Yahoo!, once again and we’d like you to be a part of it. Come compete with your favorite racing experts by clicking here and signing up. Our Group ID is 10532 and the password is stenica… so don’t miss out!

Welcome to “Mirror Driving.” Every week, all season long, your favorite columnists sit down and give their opinion about the latest NASCAR news, rumors and controversy. Love us or hate us, make a comment below and tell us how you feel about what we’ve said!

NASCAR 2014 comes with a myriad of changes in the Sprint Cup Series. Which change will have the biggest impact, positive or negative, on the series and the sport?

Amy: I think long-term, the more transparent penalty system will be good for the sport, if NASCAR is consistent in applying the levels.Phil: Yes, the penalty system, and the adjustments to the appeal system will probably be the biggest impact on the sport on a positive note. With the Chase, that’s a mess. I can’t see it benefiting the sport.Jeff W.: The emphasis on winning to get into the Chase and then to also win the title is my pick. I think crew chiefs will now try to come up with different strategies to get their driver to Victory Lane. Also, it will be more of a team thing now, too, where a driver and crew chief will have to be on the same page about tire and fuel strategy to try and steal a win, which would likely get them into the Chase.Amy: I agree with you on the Chase, Phil. It’s even further from what most fans want than the old Chase. There’s a difference between positive change and change for the sake of changing something. This is the latter, and it’s a real shame. There were plenty of options for making winning mean more while giving fans what they wanted. NASCAR blew that one, plain and simple.Phil: The changes are more designed for what Brian France wants. He likes his Game 7 moments. He’s mentioned those very words in press conferences in the past. That guy must have loved the Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals showdowns in the ’80s… even though only one of them actually went seven games.

Does Brian France’s pursuit of “Game 7 moments” stand to hurt the sport?

Amy: I’d be surprised if he can remember the 1980s…Phil: Ouch, that’s a low blow.Jeff W.: I like the new Chase setup. The last race of the season really meaning something was a big exception rather than the rule. Now, we know that final race will mean something. Change is always difficult to take, but this elimination-style format will bring some real drama to the end of the season, instead of hoping something goes wrong with the No. 48.Amy: The problem is, Jeff, that the last race means something, and the one race they have to win means something. But the first 26 races still mean far less than the last 10, and the person with the most points earned doesn’t necessarily win the title.Jeff W.: In all other sports, the best record gets you into the playoffs, but doesn’t guarantee anything. Often, the best record does win the title, but it’s no guarantee.Amy: This isn’t other sports. Period. Race fans pick NASCAR because it’s different. I also have a problem with a format that lets someone who’s like 28th in points contend for the title. If you’re 28th in points, you don’t have the best record. You got lucky once, and finished poorly the rest of the time.Jeff W.: I agree with the 28th in points thing. I think maybe they could have kept it at being in the top 20 in points, at least.Phil: Well, most sports here in the U.S. have had playoffs from the very beginning. NASCAR is more like club soccer in Europe.Jeff W.: NASCAR is different in that you have a machine with working parts involved in deciding the winner, rather than athletes going at it straight on. But I like all sports and am glad to see NASCAR will have a true playoff system.
Amy: The qualifying changes, I like. Single-car qualifying is boring. I do think it could use some tweaks, though. It’s hard to justify the fastest lap not being the pole.
Phil: Eventually, they’re going to have to change that. Also, I believe they should still do single-car qualifying at places like Bristol, Richmond, and Martinsville.
Jeff W.: Yes, I like the qualifying changes, too. There may well be some gamesmanship on that. Doing the whole thing on one set of tires is going to create a lot of downtime.
Phil: Well, we’ve got a lot of changes this year. Some good, some looney tunes, and others in the middle. We’ll just have to see how it all works. I believe the penalty rules should work out fine. Let’s just hope we don’t have to use them.
Amy: Two out of the three were great decisions on NASCAR’s part. They should have quit while they were ahead.

Saturday’s Sprint Unlimited contained plenty of action, and more than half the field failed to finish. Can fans expect similar racing in this week’s Daytona 500?

Phil: Well, I hope that more than half the field finishes.
Amy: Good lord, I hope not. Take away the crashes, and that was a lot of nothing for most of the race.
Jeff W.: I don’t think so. Drivers were willing to take more risks Saturday. I think, as usual it will get hairy at the end. That’s just the way Daytona goes, like it or not.
Amy: The draft reminded me of plate racing several years ago, when there was one group of cars running up front, but not passing each other, and finishes were not as exciting as they have been recently. In their haste to eliminate the tandems, NASCAR overdid it. NASCAR should have let the racing evolve naturally, but heaven forbid they run in a way they could avoid crashes and get away from each other.
Phil: Well, we had a race with seven more lead changes this year than last year. It was a little easier to pass as well. That bodes well. Although we saw some single-file running in the first segment, I doubt we’ll see as much of that in the Daytona 500 as we did last year.
Jeff W.: Hopefully, we will see more passing in the 500. That’s why the plates are on there, to make it all closer.
Amy: The plates keep them closed up, sure, but without any throttle response, they can’t avoid trouble. Hence, the Big One — which I firmly believe NASCAR wants to take place.
Phil: We’ll never get an official answer out of them on that issue. I doubt they’d ever admit it.
Jeff W.: I think with the way it’s set up, a Big One is pretty much inevitable. And true; they will never admit that.
Amy: Of course they won’t admit it, but they change the rules every time there might be a way to avoid it. Anyway, if everyone keeps their heads on straight, it could turn out to be an interesting race. I won’t ever use the adjective “good” to describe a plate race. Honestly, on many levels, a real underdog winner would be great.
Phil: True, it would be great.
Amy: It would also put that guy in the Chase, most likely.
Phil: I will admit that a number of fans at the race itself might not know what to make of an underdog winner in the Daytona 500. One of my friends was in the stands when Trevor Bayne won and everyone seemed to be confused in his section.
Amy: It would be good for the sport to have a small team win, but it does illustrate a major flaw in the Chase system.
Jeff W.: The plates are definitely equalizers, giving the underdog a chance to win. There’s nothing wrong with rooting for the underdog, but the top teams still have the advantage.
Amy: I hope it won’t be like Saturday, actually. I’d love to see all 43 who start make it to the end, no Big One, no nothing. I don’t think what happens at Daytona or Talladega is really racing, but to each his own. I hope nobody gets hurt and we see someone different in Victory Lane.
Phil: Well, big crashes can happen at any time. They’re a little more rare at Daytona than Talladega. I want an enjoyable race on Sunday.

Denny Hamlin has now won the last two Sprint Cup races, including his victory at Homestead last November and his win Saturday in the Sprint Unlimited — plus a victory in his Budweiser Duel Thursday. Can Hamlin parlay his momentum into a title run this year or is he peaking at the wrong time?

Phil: Peaking already? I doubt he’s peaking right now. Having said that, Hamlin could use some momentum. After last year, the only way to go is up.
Amy: It’s awfully early to predict anything. There are enough changes to the cars and rules this year that it will be about adapting through the first half of the season or so.
Jeff W.: I wouldn’t call it peaking either, but it’s good momentum for that team. They had the worst year last year, with Denny maybe racing when he wasn’t close to 100 percent. But this is important for them. They know they can win now. Confidence means a lot.
Amy: Hamlin’s real problem may be too many cooks at JGR. What I’ve seen at JGR in the past is Hamlin getting the short end of the stick in several situations. When tandem drafting was going strong, Logano was always Busch’s lackey, leaving Hamlin to fend for himself, every time. His teammates don’t seem to work with him the way some teams work together. Could be an issue down the line. Plus, Hamlin looked good on Saturday, but so did several others. I was really impressed by Harvick’s run, personally. Earnhardt, Jr. also looked good until he got bit. Kyle Busch certainly turned heads.
Phil: Yes, Harvick was able to get his wounded No. 4 into the hunt. It was a little hard to tell the extent of Harvick’s damage, though.

Is Denny Hamlin primed for a Daytona 500 victory?

Jeff W.: Harvick will be on a real mission to win a title. And I think he and Childers will be a really good combination.
Phil: Even if Harvick didn’t leave RCR at the end of last season, he’d be on a mission to win a title. This is Harvick’s 14th season in Cup and he’s still empty-handed when it comes to Sprint Cup titles. Sure, he’s got two Busch Series championships, but it’s not the same.
Amy: I agree, Jeff. Over the course of the season, there will be lots of competition for Hamlin: Harvick, Johnson, both Buschs, Kenseth, Stewart… that said, these wins have been medicine Hamlin sorely needed. What remains to be seen is if he has the chops to hold up to the pressure.
Jeff W.: Yes, but bottom line is Harvick didn’t think he could win a title at RCR or he would still be there. He will want to prove he was right in leaving.
Phil: That’s true. At least he went to a team where the cupboard wasn’t bare. At Stewart-Haas, he essentially has a team that was in the Chase last year and a crew chief that can win races. Not a bad place to be. There are definitely worse places to be in Cup right now than the No. 4 team.
Amy: SHR is a step up from RCR in equipment, albeit a small one.
Phil: I think Harvick will do well, but Kurt Busch might take a step back this year.
Jeff W.: I’m not sure about Kurt Busch either. He was fine when being viewed as an underdog on single-car teams. But now, there is pressure and expectations involved. It will really test if he has matured or not. I hope for his sake, he has. But hard to say for sure with his history.
Phil: I think he has, Jeff. However, there’s just too many unknowns right now with that team.
Amy: True, Jeff. Could see some true colors this year if things don’t go right. It’s easier on the ego to overperform with an underdog than to underperform with a top organization.
Phil: I think Kurt’s a different person than he was in 2011. He should be able to handle a little adversity now. If he knows what’s good for him, he’s not going to threaten to kick anyone’s butt for any reason.
Jeff W.: Back to my original point: Hamlin is definitely the No. 3 guy at Gibbs. One reason I kind of root for him and wouldn’t mind at all if won the title.
Amy: I do think Hamlin is showing he’s ready to contend for a title. But he’ll have to overcome a lot of drivers, including his own teammates to do that… and he hasn’t been mentally tough enough to do so in the past. And as we’ve discussed, there are lots of drivers who are angling for the title as well.
Phil: Hamlin’s going to have a much better year in 2014. The only thing that could hurt him is if his back acts up again, or something else goes wrong with his body. Denny’s injury prone.

Driver changes abounded in the offseason in both the Nationwide and Truck Series as teams look for Victory Lane. Who is poised for a breakout season in those series, and can a regular have the star power to bring either series a stronger sense of identity in 2014?

Amy: Unfortunately, the driver who should have been the NNS title favorite has been cast in the role of keeping the seat warm for Kyle Busch at the tracks he doesn’t feel like running.
Phil: Yeah, Sam Hornish, Jr. got the shaft. Nothing else to it.
Amy: I do think that Chase Elliott will bring some fans to the table wanting to see if he can rekindle the Elliott magic. Ty Dillon will have some eyes on him as well. Honestly, though, the only thing that’s going to really get a regular noticed in NNS is if one of them can beat the Cup guys and do it more than once.
Jeff W.: I would like to see Trevor Bayne do well in the Nationwide Series. I think he is one of the full-time drivers who could bring some positive attention to the series if he can get some wins.
Phil: Without Hornish in the mix, it’s Ty Dillon, Elliott Sadler, Trevor Bayne and probably Chase Elliott. Dylan Kwasniewski will battle for a win or two later this year.
Phil: And Regan Smith. Can’t forget him.
Jeff W.: On Hornish, it’s a just a shame what has happened to him. I still think Penske should have chosen him over Logano for the Cup ride. Hornish proved he was ready and other drivers said as much when he filled in for Allmendinger. The fact that Hornish does not have a ride in NNS or Sprint Cup is a sign of what’s wrong with NASCAR today.
Amy: I agree, Jeff. And once again, Joe Gibbs showed that he’s only in it for the trophies and he doesn’t care how he gets them. Penske, too. I think a driver actually has a better chance of standing out in CWTS, but there are fewer eyes on that series to begin with, so it’s a catch-22.
Jeff W.: It’s not just trophies, it’s about drivers who can bring in sponsors to pay bills. I understand that’s part of the game, but there’s just too many less-talented drivers out there with rides. And you’re not going to find a better quality person than Hornish, either. I think he would be a sponsor’s dream.
Phil: For the Camping World Truck Series, we’ve got a couple of name drivers that should battle it out for the title. Johnny Sauter could be up there, as can Ryan Blaney and Timothy Peters. I also expect a strong sophomore campaign from Darrell Wallace, Jr. Matt Crafton will lurk, like he always does. Even with the contraction that the trucks have seen over the winter, we’ll still have a nice battle. Just wish Jeb Burton was in it instead of working in a transmission shop, which is where I think he’ll end up spending most of 2014.
Amy: Trucks has some great drivers who are really fun to watch. More people should be watching them, because nine times out of 10, they’ll produce the best race of the weekend.
Phil: You don’t have to tell me that. I watch every week. I think I’ve missed 10 truck races since the series began in 1995.
Jeff W.: I agree the trucks race is often the best race out there. I think that’s because in large part you’ve got guys still climbing the ladder, really giving it all they’ve got to get to the front.
Amy: NNS won’t have an identity until NASCAR takes a stand and gets the Cup guys out. Trucks has its own identity, but not enough people know it.
Phil: It would help if there were more than five standalone Nationwide races a year.
Amy: Hornish is the perfect example of what’s wrong with that series. He took a backseat to the No. 22 last year and barely has a seat with JGR for this year, and but for a crappy call by NASCAR, the guy could be a champion. NASCAR needs to stop giving these teams owner points when they run their Cup drivers. That would solve the owner’s title problem. Why JGR and Penske couldn’t put more effort into their NNS guys winning the drivers’ title and less into their Cup guys winning an owner championship, I have no idea. It’s so backward.
Phil: If Gibbs really wants to run their Nationwide team right, they should have Drew Herring drive full-time. That dude is banished to the shop 11 months a year.

Anyhow, how about some predictions for the Daytona 500? We’ll be keeping points this year, so there’s a title on the line!

Phil: Well, I’m going to go with Joey Logano. Just going off on a limb.
Jeff W.: For some reason when I think of who is going to win, Martin Truex, Jr. comes to mind, so that’s my pick. Though I’d love to see Smoke finally get one.
Amy: Because it’s the Daytona 500, I’m going out on a bit of a limb and taking Casey Mears. I like what I’ve seen from him in testing and Speedweeks so far. Mears is an excellent plate racer… and JJ owes him one. Could be a little magic there.
Phil: Interesting choice. I was surprised with Michael Annett’s pace in qualifying, Amy. You agree?
Amy: Yeah, and it was cool to see some small teams with good solid Q runs.

]]>UNOH Battle at the Beach sees Daniel Suarez go back-to-back while Doug Coby is in the right place at the right time.https://frontstretch.com/2014/02/19/the-2014-unoh-battle-at-the-beach-is-most-likely-the-final-incarnation-of-the-event-since-the-superstretch-grandstands-are-going-to-be-removed-before-next-february-this-years-event-only-saw/
Thu, 20 Feb 2014 03:58:51 +0000https://frontstretch.com/site/?p=69299The 2014 UNOH Battle at the Beach is most likely the final incarnation of the event since the Superstretch grandstands are going to be removed before next February. This year’s event only saw K&N East cars and Tour Type Modifieds take to the temporary circuit on the backstretch of Daytona International Speedway. After 300 laps …

]]>The 2014 UNOH Battle at the Beach is most likely the final incarnation of the event since the Superstretch grandstands are going to be removed before next February. This year’s event only saw K&N East cars and Tour Type Modifieds take to the temporary circuit on the backstretch of Daytona International Speedway. After 300 laps of intense racing and markedly less controversy than 2013, Doug Coby was on the victory podium with the Modified crown while Daniel Suarez was putting a firm stamp on his dance card as a favorite for the 2014 K&N title with his second consecutive K&N race win, and third straight Regional Touring Series victory.

The modified race started the night’s festivities and Ryan Preece wasted no time in establishing his car as the one to beat in the race. Preece led the first 147 laps of the 150 lap race through eight caution periods, including the final one which involved Preece. While Preece maintained the top spot, his left rear tire was damaged in the incident that brought out the caution. On the restart he was unable to get a satisfactory drive off of the corner which allowed Coby to drive past him on the backstretch and assume the point. From then it was a matter of holding off Jason Myers for the win. While Myers gave him a classic shot to the back nerf bar in the final corner he missed the opening he created and Coby held onto the top spot and grabbed the win. Myers was second acrossed the finish line while Luke Fleming came home third. Coby held on with his wounded ride for fourth and Myers’ brother Burt finished off the top 5.

While the players in the Modified play were meeting with the media, the K&N cars fired up and rolled off for their feature. Gray Gaulding grabbed the point on the first lap of the event over pole sitter Ben Rhodes. Gaulding showed the way for the first 20 laps of the 150 lap event but Daniel Suarez started sixth in the No. 6 ride and used that lucky scenario to overpower Gaulding and take over the top spot. From then on the battle was ultimately for the second place finish because Suarez was too strong to be headed. As the competitors in the runner-up spot changed repeatedly and cars swapped positions throughout the field through eight caution periods, the top driver never switched. With his second consecutive win in the series in a week, after scoring the win at New Smyrna on Sunday night. The battle for runner-up eventually ended in the favor of Austin Hill. Brandon McReynolds, and his teammate Nick Drake finished third and fourth respectively while Lee Pulliam capped off the top 5.

Coby was thankful that Myers’ attempt at a bump and run came up a little short. “I knew he was going to take a shot,” said the former Modified Tour Champion. “I tried to hold it as straight as possible and absorb his shot. He hit me pretty good but then he drove over my nerf bar, which planted the rear tire. At that point I knew he’d never beat me to the line.”

Myers was less than thankful for the way the maneuver worked out. “I was right where I wanted to be on the last lap,” the Bowman-Gray Stadium regular lamented. “I gave him the shot and moved him up just like I wanted to. The hole was there but when I turned to fill it the left front caught his car and killed my momentum. I knew I was done at that point in time.”

As for the K&N combatants, Suarez knows he’s in a great situation right now. “My Rev Racing team, and not just on the No. 6, but on all of the cars, is really building great cars right now.” The NASCAR Mexico Champion went on to add, “I just thank God for this opportunity. All of the hard work that everyone is putting in is paying off and I couldn’t be more blessed.”

The next race for the K&N East series is on March 15th at Bristol Motor Speedway.

]]>NASCAR 2014 Season Preview: Nationwide & Trucks Attendance & Ratingshttps://frontstretch.com/2014/02/19/nascar-2014-season-preview-nationwide-trucks-attendance-ratings/
Thu, 20 Feb 2014 03:48:26 +0000https://frontstretch.com/site/?p=69289New playoff system. New qualifying procedure. New attitude. As NASCAR heads towards Daytona in 2014, all around the sport are focused on the positive, looking for the perfect season to recapture a nation currently preoccupied with other sports, along with the Olympics in Sochi. Can they do it? As Speedweeks dawn, both NASCAR’s Sprint Unlimited …

]]>New playoff system. New qualifying procedure. New attitude. As NASCAR heads towards Daytona in 2014, all around the sport are focused on the positive, looking for the perfect season to recapture a nation currently preoccupied with other sports, along with the Olympics in Sochi.

Can they do it? As Speedweeks dawn, both NASCAR’s Sprint Unlimited and the 56th Daytona 500 usher in a long list of questions along with them, the answers to which could define the sport for not just this year but the next NASCAR television contract. That means it’s time to get the blood pumping and start 2014 analysis, bringing Frontstretch back to your list of daily internet favorites. This week, we’ll get you thinking each day on one of five big questions facing stock car racing; as we try and find the answers, staff members you know and love will come at you with our usual blend of facts, opinion, and a little sense of humor.

Today’s Season Preview Topic: The NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series have both seen lower than desired attendance and television ratings in recent years. Are there changes NASCAR could make to bring those series back to relevance with fans or are they simply seeing the same interest that other minor-league sports have in relation to the top league?

S.D. Grady, Senior Writer: Who watches AA ball? What do local promoters offer in order to get the stands full at your local minor league ballpark? Bobblehead dolls, two-for-one deals and hokey-pokey halftime shows. The games are broadcast on regional sports networks and a handful of fantasy league/baseball fans tune in religiously. Why should NASCAR be any different? The same fans that pack the stands at the Icebreaker at Thompson International Speedway are the ones that buy tickets for the Camping World Truck race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Expecting the NNS and Truck series to draw the same crowd as Sprint Cup is unrealistic. However, when was the last time you saw 20 thousand fans at a minor league ballgame? Attendance may not be what NASCAR would want at these smaller races, but in all reality, it’s not that bad.

Summer Bedgood, Senior Editor: Considering that the Nationwide Series still runs ratings numbers higher than or equal to many of the IndyCar Series races, I would say that their following is actually more impressive than other similarly lower-tier leagues or series in other sports. The Truck Series could probably do better in the ratings area, but there are still many diehard fans who claim it as their favorite series.

The Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series have faced up-and-down ratings and low attendance, but are things really as bad as they seem?.

The Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series have faced up-and-down ratings and low attendance, but are things really as bad as they seem?.

In terms of what NASCAR can do, it is always possible that they could implement many of the same changes they have made in the Sprint Cup Series. Either that, or they could embrace the same gimmicks and rules that short tracks use in order to play to a more “grassroots” audience. Honestly, though, I’m not sure they should do a whole lot. You are not going to get casual fans to watch these series. These are races that are usually built on and played to the diehard race fans who watch any kind of racing that is on television. I know many want the Sprint Cup Series drivers gone from both Nationwide and Trucks, but how much does it help short tracks when Kyle Busch shows up to race on a given weekend? You can’t tell these drivers not to race and then complain when their fans follow them out the door. NASCAR needs to make sure the racing is competitive in both series and the diehards will continue to pay attention.

Mike Neff, Senior Writer/Short Track Coordinator: The answer is simple: Get the Trucks and Nationwide away from the Sprint Cup series and tracks. Have them run at more local tracks in conjunction with each other rather than supporting the Cup Series. If the “minor league” teams can put on a show at the local level they’ll cultivate a new fan base that can follow the drivers up to the Cup series and ultimately build the fan totals for the entire sport. The sanctioning body also needs to pump more money into the series via purses so that teams are more well compensated for their support of the organization. As long as they run in companion with the Cup series for most of their schedules, both series will flounder.

Beth Lunkenheimer, Managing Editor: Simply put, expecting the Nationwide or Camping World Truck Series to draw the same kind of attendance numbers and ratings as the Sprint Cup Series is just crazy. Do minor-league baseball games draw the same crowds as their major league counterparts? For the Nationwide Series, especially, fans are likely choosing to save their money for the Cup races since they’ll see many of the same stars dominate both events.

But with the Truck Series, the crowds have certainly looked healthier in recent years—did you see the crowd at Eldora last year? Plus, every time I turn around, I’m reading something about how ratings for this Truck race or that Truck race are up over the previous year. While those numbers may be lower than “desired,” they’re certainly heading in the right direction.

Amy Henderson, Managing Editor: In a word, yes, but NASCAR doesn’t want to hear the solution. Fans who were once diehard followers of these series, Nationwide in particular, have tuned out because of the dominance of a couple of Sprint Cup drivers and teams. When the race winner is all but predetermined each week, there’s not much incentive for fans to tune in. Sure, the names might attract the casual fan who can’t be bothered to learn drivers from more than one series, but for every fan who watches to see the Cup stars, there’s one who tunes out because they’re tired of them running roughshod over the field.

Should NASCAR ban these drivers completely? No, but they need to either severely limit both the number of races they can participate in and the number of Cup drivers who can participate in each race or provide no incentive whatsoever for them to race by paying a Cup driver who races for a Cup organization last place money regardless of finish, and by not awarding owner points to car owners whose drivers also race full time in Sprint Cup, eliminating the over-hyped owner’s title from the picture. It was truly sad to see the battle between Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing’s Cup stars for the owner title overshadow the driver’s championship in the media to the degree that it did, and that’s doing the series no favors.

This is, however, a little like minor league baseball. If everyone expected those games to have the same level of attendance and ratings as major league games, they’re going to be disappointed. If they hold them up to their own standard, or against other sports at the same level, then the picture might not look so bleak. Comparing NNS or CWTS numbers to Cup is just not feasible. The series should be looked at as their own entity, and held to their own standards, not held against the elite series. When they are, they will inevitably fall short. If looked at against other high-level minor-league sports, the perception might well change.

Brett Poirier, Senior Writer: Race at smaller tracks. The move the Nationwide Series made from ORP to the Brickyard was heartbreaking because that was one of the best Nationwide Series races left. No one wants to watch Nationwide cars and trucks race around 2-mile tracks. These lower series’ should be about showcasing up-and-coming drivers, but it often showcases Cup drivers and the teams with the most resources to run fast at big tracks. If the Nationwide Series races at more short tracks, it evens the playing field a little bit between Gibbs, RCR and everyone else, and gives other drivers more of a chance to showcase their driving ability.

Vito Pugliese, Senior Editor: Yes; don’t race on Friday nights when your core demographic is out partying. Second, start racing at smaller tracks around the country so the stands look full to over-flowing. If that means that you have to help fund the installation of some SAFER Barriers, so be it. Maybe that would help lure Ford back into the CWTS fray in a more substantial manner if people were showing up and creating excitement and enthusiasm for the product.

Secondly, and this is a no-brainer, run the Truck Series races on Sunday morning or early afternoon before the Cup race at the larger tracks for companion races. Mix in a few road courses too. If Mosport was any indication last year of how great that can be, they should be turning right about once a month. As I’ve long said, if NASCAR is going to shy away from short tracks, then replace them with road courses, as they have become the new short track for the series as far as beating, banging, great finishes, and creating some rivalries within the sport. Plus if the wives and girlfriends are taking swings at the drivers afterwards, it’s a win for everybody.

Mike Mehedin, Senior Writer/Marketing Assistant: There has always been an issue with minor league teams not always performing as well as the major league teams. The Nationwide Series has an issue with dominance from very few teams. You can turn on any Nationwide race and expect to see a Joe Gibbs Racing car leading the race. Regretfully NASCAR can’t magically create more competitive cars. And they have tried reducing the cost for teams to come to the track. Truth is, it’s an expensive sport and a lot of the speed comes from the shop and wind tunnel, and teams that can’t utilize those things are already at a disadvantage. Speed continues to be an issue, so if they slow down the cars and take away the aero issues, I feel the racing would be a lot better on the high-speed tracks.

The Camping World Truck Series, I believe, is better than the Nationwide Series when it comes to competitive racing and the rules package. I’m surprised that attendance is so low in this series. I would easily place the Truck Series second behind the Cup series and before the Nationwide series. I don’t think NASCAR should play with the rules package. They should just do a better job of marketing the series.

Mark Howell, Senior Writer: The novelty has worn off for the Camping World Truck Series, a form of racing that was sort of unique back in the mid-1990’s (even though NASCAR had floated an idea for racing pickup trucks years earlier). As with other “minor league” divisions, the NCWTS quickly became a high-speed elevator for those at the start/near the end of their racing careers.

Kudos to the Nationwide Series for trying to build waning fan interest in recent years by allowing popular models like Mustangs, Camaros, Camrys, and Challengers to compete; unfortunately, the NNS continues to be plagued by Sprint Cup drivers who take both wins and prize money away from teams trying to leverage themselves in hopes of making the NSCS “show”. Such is the plight of a “minor league” franchise in today’s high-profile/big name culture of professional sports: the competition might be good, but it’s still considered second-best.

Matt Stallknecht, Assistant Editor: I am of the opinion that NASCAR does not need a third national-level series. Two is more than enough. The Truck Series, while exciting to watch, is not financially profitable for the team’s that compete in the series. The payouts in that league do not justify the costs it takes to run a Truck team. Nationwide is a bit better in this regard, but even there, the cost-benefit of that series just does not make sense. NASCAR would be better served by consolidating the two series into one series and redesigning the cost structure so that the new series would have Truck-level costs coupled with Nationwide-level payouts. The loss of the third series could be made up by giving a facelift to the K&N Pro Regional Series to make each a bit more glamorous, visible, and nationally recognized, while still maintaining the cost-effectiveness of those series. Ultimately, I think such measures would serve to boost all of NASCAR’s minor leagues while simultaneously lowering the cost of entrance into the sport of NASCAR.

Phil Allaway, Senior Editor:

The Camping World Truck Series puts on some of the best racing in NASCAR, but still sees many empty seats in the grandstands. What is the solution?

The Camping World Truck Series puts on some of the best racing in NASCAR, but still sees many empty seats in the grandstands. What is the solution?

Sadly, the Nationwide Series has had these identity problems for what seems like forever. NASCAR believes that having Nationwide races to support Sprint Cup is very important. Sprint Cup does need series to support them at their race weekends, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be the Nationwide Series. Separating the Nationwide Series more often from Cup will definitely help them foster a bigger identity. 5 of 33 races just isn’t enough. However, different engine rules should be instituted as well. Potentially a return to 274 cubic inch V6’s. Prior to 1992, the series was primarily a short track series with something like 13 support races to Cup a year. Even then, the Cup drivers were dominating the support races. However, there was enough separation that the series had an identity.

The Camping World Truck Series continues to suffer from NASCAR’s insistence that the season begin and end with Sprint Cup and Nationwide in Daytona and Homestead. With a 22-race season, a 40-week schedule is far from ideal. The early part of the year is so spread out that no one can get anything going. People who aren’t necessarily diehards are going to forget about the series. That’s just not going to work.

To an extent, the TV ratings for both series are more or less indicative of lower division series. They’re not horrible, although there has been a decrease in Nationwide ratings on ESPN over the past two years. The changeover to FOX Sports 1 has put the Camping World Truck Series in more homes. In addition, the Fred’s 250 at Talladega in October will be televised on FOX, the series’ first race on network television since 2009. That should help the series’ visibility a little.

]]>NASCAR Writer Power Rankings: Preseason Top 15https://frontstretch.com/2014/02/19/nascar-writer-power-rankings-preseason-top-15/
Thu, 20 Feb 2014 03:44:55 +0000https://frontstretch.com/site/?p=69286 It seems like only yesterday Jimmie Johnson was dubbed “Six-Pack” but yes, another racing season is upon us. NASCAR has already made national headlines after rookie Austin Dillon, just 23 years old put the famed No. 3 on the pole for Sunday’s Daytona 500. It’s the first time that particular number has been entered …

It seems like only yesterday Jimmie Johnson was dubbed “Six-Pack” but yes, another racing season is upon us. NASCAR has already made national headlines after rookie Austin Dillon, just 23 years old put the famed No. 3 on the pole for Sunday’s Daytona 500. It’s the first time that particular number has been entered in a Sprint Cup event since Dale Earnhardt lost his life in the 2001 edition of The Great American Race.

The offseason proved a busy time for NASCAR as a number of changes were made to the Chase format and a more transparent penalty process was unveiled. The 2014 Chase will now host 16 total drivers, including anyone that wins a race during the regular season. Once the field is selected, the bottom four in points will be eliminated after the third, sixth and ninth Chase races. In Homestead, the points will reset for the remaining four drivers, leaving one option to win the Championship: finish ahead of the other three.

A lot of conversation swirls around the 2014 Sprint Cup Rookie class, the deepest and most talented lineup in more than a decade. This year’s crop of drivers includes Austin Dillon, Michael Annett, Kyle Larson, Justin Allgaier, Alex Bowman, Parker Kligerman, Ryan Truex and Cole Whitt. Already, with Dillon making headlines the pressure’s on the other seven to perform.

On paper, the 2014 NASCAR season is shaping up to be one of the best in a number of years. Many veteran drivers have new rides. They, paired with a number of rookies, are all looking to prove themselves to their owners, sponsors, and fans. This Championship will surely come down to the final race. And thanks to NASCAR and its new Chase format, it will… literally.

Before the field is set and the green flag flies in Daytona, here are who we think you should look out for in 2014.

How The Rankings Are Calculated: Frontstretch does our power rankings somewhat similar to how the Associated Press does them for basketball or football — our expert stable of NASCAR writers, both on staff and from other major publications will vote for the Top 20 on a 20-19-18-17-16-15… 3-2-1 basis, giving 20 points to their first place driver, 19 for their second, and so on. In the end, Michael Mehedin calculates the points, adds some funny one-liners, and … here you go!

FRONTSTRETCH TOP 15 POWER RANKINGS: February 19th

Rank

Driver (First Place Votes)

Votes

Last Week

1

Jimmie Johnson (10)

257

NA

It doesn’t matter what Chase format you throw at them, they’re going to be a contender. And with that seventh championship hanging out there, he and Chad Knaus want it sooner rather than later. Kelly Crandall, SpeedwayMedia.com

2

Kyle Busch

211

NA

Back-to-back “Most Awesome Saves Ever” in the last two Sprint Unlimiteds. If only he could learn how to do that at Kansas, he’d be all set. Vito Pugliese, Frontstretch.com

3

Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

201

NA

If this format doesn’t get him the championship, maybe he can lobby NASCAR for bonus points based on T-Shirt sales. Dennis Michelsen; RaceTalkRadio.com

4

Matt Kenseth

196

NA

He will prove the whole “second-place in the standings” jinx doesn’t mean anything. Jeff Wolfe, Frontstretch.com

5

Brad Keselowski

180

NA

Surely, 2014 has to be better… right? Justin Tucker, Frontstretch.com

6

Denny Hamlin

176

NA

Sprint Unlimited win – check! Not a bad way to end last season in Miami and to pick up right where you left off. Hamlin can win it all this year. Andrew Stallings, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio

7

Kevin Harvick

171

NA

After all the drama last season with Richard Childress Racing, Kevin Harvick was ready to start fresh with SHR. Now, as 2014 dawns he is extremely determined to show he made the right choice. Harvick will be strong all season and is my top pick for the 2014 championship. Michael Mehedin, Frontstretch.com

8

Jeff Gordon

148

NA

Father time is not on his side. Turning 43 this season, 2014 will tell us a lot about the four-time champion’s future. Justin Tucker, Frontstretch.com

9

Carl Edwards

127

NA

This isn’t the Carl Edwards of 2008, but the team has great potential. Roush Fenway, however, needs to pick their program up as they struggled last year and never got a handle on it. Kelly Crandall, SpeedwayMedia.com

T – 10

Joey Logano

125

NA

Seems to have found a happy home and right fit at Penske. With Ford’s new nose for this year, look for Logano to settle in and start racking up some wins. Vito Pugliese, Frontstretch.com

The Biff was a bit stiff in the Chase. With contract negotiations underway, look for the 16 to come out swinging early. Vito Pugliese, Frontstretch.com

15

Kasey Kahne

99

NA

One thing that has slowly come to fruition over the last year is the lack of success from the No. 5 team. In an organization where winning seems to be something you shower in every morning, you would think that some sort of spark would be ignited this season for Kasey and crew chief Kenny Francis. Personalities speak wonders to me in any form of sports competition, and that is one thing that Kasey does not really have working in his favor at this point in time. We need to see more out of this team and my eyes will be on this group. They will be on the bubble to make the Chase in my book. Andrew Stallings, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio

]]>Ty Dillon wrestles the Gator into submission while Ivedent Lloyd Jr. grabs UMP Late Model Victoryhttps://frontstretch.com/2014/02/18/ty-dillon-wrestles-the-gator-into-submission-while-ivedent-lloyd-jr-grabs-ump-late-model-victory/
Wed, 19 Feb 2014 03:37:08 +0000https://frontstretch.com/site/?p=69278The DirtCar Nationals presented by Summit at Volusia County Speedway showcase some of the best talent in the dirt racing world. On Monday night it was time for the UMP Modified drivers to headline the festivities with the Gator Nationals. Ty Dillon dominated his first four nights of racing, winning three of the races. In …

]]>The DirtCar Nationals presented by Summit at Volusia County Speedway showcase some of the best talent in the dirt racing world. On Monday night it was time for the UMP Modified drivers to headline the festivities with the Gator Nationals. Ty Dillon dominated his first four nights of racing, winning three of the races. In the Gator he drew the outside front row position and never looked back after the drop of the green flag. Dillon’s brother Austin, who won his qualifying race on Sunday night after securing the pole for the Daytona 500 was extremely fast, rushing to the front from the seventh starting position but was crashed out late in the event.

Dillon started outside of Kenny Wallace on the front row and grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag. Wallace slotted in second while 2012 Gator winner Nick Hoffman fell in third. Those three drivers stretched out the advantage over the rest of the field while Dillon’s brother was carving his way forward from seventh. A caution for Jacob Poel stopping against the inside fourth turn wall with a broken tie rod bunched the field back together. Shortly after the restart, Hoffman worked his way around Wallace and set his sites on Dillon. When the leaders caught traffic, Hoffman closed on Dillon but never really put pressure on him. He then came under assault from Austin Dillon, who had made his way to the third position. Dillon put an aggressive slide job onto Hoffman in turns one and two with three laps to go. Hoffman returned the favor in turn three, running Dillon up to the fence as the caution came out for an unrelated incident. Dillon drove over Hoffman’s nose as they went into turn one under caution to show his displeasure over Hoffman’s maneuver.

When the field came back to green for the restart, Hoffman’s left rear wheel broke free from the car, sending him into a spin. Dillon plowed into his rear and was then run over by Wallace, who flipped upside down on the front straight. Multiple cars ended up in the melee, which resulted in a red flag All of the drivers were ok but Hoffman, Dillon and Wallace were done for the night and there was no one left to challenge the younger Dillon for the prestigious Gator. After the carnage was removed from the front straight Dillon cruised to the victory ahead of Devin Gilpin. Dale Mathison crossed the line in third with Jeff Babcock and Kyle Strickler rounding out the top 5.

In UMP Dirt Super Late Model Action, Ivedent Lloyd Jr. grabbed the lead from the front row and was never really challenged during the 30 lap feature race. The race track was smooth and fast which is exactly how Lloyd attacked the course. The high speeds didn’t provide a lot of opportunity to try and work by cars on the bottom so Lloyd simply outran the competition. Brady Smith got close a couple of times, as Lloyd worked traffic, but he never really put on a serious challenge. Eric Wells, John Blankenship and Shane Clanton finished off the top 5 for the Late Models.